Potato-digger.



A. LAURITZEN.

POTATO BIGGER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. I916.

1,, 39,1, Patnted Sept. 11,1917.

UNTTB @ATlifi AFN ALBERT LAURITZEN, 01? CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN.

POTATO-BIGGER.

Application filed June 16, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT LAURITZEN, citizen of the United States, residing at Charlotte, in the county of Eaton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Potato-Digger, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to potato diggers, such as shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 104,039 filed even date herewith and in the patent granted to J. F. Neilsen and myself January 9, 1912, No. 1,014,493. v

The present invention relates partlcularly to the device for mounting the digglng share and colter plates or wings in place at the forward end of the trunk, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character having certain useful features, whereby to enhance the utility and efficiency of the digger.

With the foregoing and other ob ects 1n view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction. hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein L Figure 1 is a plan view of a fragment-a1 portion of the digger illustrating the improved device.

Fig. 2 1s a slde elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the present device, and

Fig. e is a side elevation thereof, parts being removed.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the upper front corner of one side plate of the trunk showin the slot therein.

he general construction of the machlne is shown in my co-pendin application Serial No. 104,039 above refined to, and since the entire machine need not be considered in connection with this invention, only those portions thereof which cooperate directly with the present device will be described, reference being had to said appli- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 11, 1017..

Serial No. 104,037.

cation, if necessary, for the operation and construction of the machine as a whole.

The machine includes a trunk having the side plates d5, said trunk having means for agitating and conveying the potatoes rearwardly, whereby they are sifted.

The present device is located at the for ward or receiving end of the trunk 1 1 and includes a U-shaped supporting bar or member 57 attached to the forward end of the trunk. This bar or member 51 supports the colter plates or wings 58 at the opposite sides, and also supports the lower digging share 59. The lower or intermediate por tion of the member 57 is offset upwardly, as at 100, and the share 59 is secured upon this upwardly offset portion. 100, said portion being narrower than the share, whereby the side edges of the share project beyond the ends of the portion 100 to overhang the portions 101 at the ends of the portions 100 which are spaced below the share to provide clearance spaces through which the vines and trash can pass, without the liability of clogging or choking the machine.

The forward ends of the side plates 15 of the trunk 44 overlap the outer sides of the limbs of the member 57, while the rear ends of the colter plates 58 overlap the, inner sides of said limbs, and bolts 61 or other securing elements are engaged through said plates 4:5 and 58 and through the limbs of the member 57 adjacent the lower edges of said plates and the lower ends of said limbs. These bolts or elements 61 also have con nected therewith, the links or members 60 of the device which is used for raising and lowering the forward end of the trunk. The plates 15 are provided adjacent their upper edges with arcuate slots 102, and the upper ends of the limbs of the member 57 are pro vided with similar slots, said slots being curved about the bolts 61 as centers, and clamping bolts 103 are engaged through the slots 102 for clamping the plates 1558 and member 57 together. When the bolts 103 are loosened, the member 57 can be adjusted relative to the trunk, to change the angle of the member 57, and the colter plates 58 will also be adjusted angularly relative to the plates 45.

A. pair of vine guiding rods 60 which project rearwardly and converge toward one another so as to project over the receiving end of the trunk, are provided at their forward ends with members 101 having do\vn 'wardly projecting ears 105 pivotally mounted upon the outer ends of the bolts 103 and clamped in place thereby. The members 10a have grooves 106 extending from their rear ends receiving the forward terminals of the rods and said members 10% have apertures 107 extending outwardly from the forward ends of the grooves 106 and receiving the terminals 108 of the rods 60 which are bent at an angle. Thus, the rods 60 are locked to the members 104 and are clamped between the members we and plates 58. The ears 105 overlap the plates 15 and the members 10 1 extend over said plates 4E5 and upper ends of the member 57 and bear against the outer sides of the plates 58, as seen in Fig. 3. When the bolts 103 are loosened, the rods 60 can be raised or lowered.

In operation, the share 59 plows up the row of potatoes, directing the soil and potatoes rearwardly onto the grid or sifting means of the trunk. The colter plates 58 serve to split the soil at the opposite sides of the row, and assist in directing the vines, potatoes and soil into the trunk. The side edges of the share 59 being spaced from the side portions or limbs of the member 57 and being spaced above the portions 101,ipermit the vines and trash to readily pass the side edges of the share, whereby to prevent clog ging. This is a salient feature of the structure. The rods 60 serve to direct any vines which pass upwardly on the colter plates 58, toward the center of the trunk, whereby to prevent the tangling of the vines with the parts upon the outer sides of the trunk, since the vines will not be liable to fall over or overhang the sides ofthe trunk.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a trunk, a U-shaped member attached to the forward end thereof, the lower portion of said member having a raised portion, colter plates attached to the limbs of said member, and a digging share secured upon said upwardly offset portion and having its side edges projecting beyond said portion.

2. In a machine of the character described,

a. trunk, a U-shaped niomber having its limbs attached to the forward end of said trunk, the lower portion of saidmember being provided with an upwardly oflset portion between and spaced from the limbs colter plates attached to the limbs of said member and projecting forwardly, and a digging share secured upon said upwardly offset portion, the side edges of said share being spaced from the colter plates and projecting beyond the ends of said upwardly offsetportion.

In a machine of the character described, a trunk embodying side plates, a U-shaped member, the forward ends of said plates overlapping the limbs of said member, colter plates overlapping the limbs of said member, a digging share secured upon the lower portion of said member, pivot elements con .necting said plates and limbs adjacent the lower edges of said plates, said side plates and limbs having slots adjacent the upper edges of said plates, and clamping elements engaged through said slots. 4. In a machine of the character described, a trunk embodying side plates, a U-shaped member at the forward end of the trunk, colter plates, said plates and member being pivotally connected, means for holding said plates and member at dilferent angles relative to one another, and a digging share secured upon the lower portion of said member.

5. In a machine of the character described, a trunk having side plates, :1 lJ-shaped member at the forward end of the trunk, colter plates, said plates and limbs of said members being pivotally connected adjacent the lower edges of said plates, said. side plates and limbs having slots adjacent the upper edges of said plates, clamping bolts engaged through said slots, and rearwardly projecting rods overhanging the trunk and having portions engaging said bolts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT LAURITZEN. lVitnesses:

FRANK E. BEARD, ALBERT L. GREEN.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D, 0. i 

